Updates from the Global Forum on Agricultural Research

My name is Fisnik Shaqiri, 27 years old from Republic of Kosovo. I have finished my Bachelor degree at Faculty of Agriculture in Agroeconomy, University of Prishtina, Kosovo 2007-2010. In 2012 I have started my Master course in Hungary at Szent Istvan University, Godollo and in 2014 June I am graduated MSc in Rural Development and Agribusiness. The gained knowledge will help me a lot to the administration of the Strawberry model and to the externalization of the products.

During my study in Hungary I got experiences in the field of business farming, meeting with Hungarian farmers from which I got inspired. Also I have participated in many conferences, I can highlight my participation in the “Global Forum and Expo on Family Farming” in Budapest, March 2014 as organizer and exhibitor.

In 2013 I became part of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development of Kosovo (YPARD Kosovo) and thank to YPARD I had chance to participate in congress held in Milan under the title “Rural Communities: No Longer Left Behind. Rural and Regional Development in the South and North Mediterranean and the New Neighborhood Policy”.

Since October 2015 I am working as teaching assistant in Faculty of Agriculture, department of Agricultural Economics at University of Prishtina, Kosovo. And also I share my knowledge with young farmers in farming and giving them information about any projects relating to agriculture area, this makes me so happy.

Project Description

The need for small fruits (strawberry) increasingly is growing while production of small fruits increasingly lag by comparison with the growth of needs that people have. In order to collect data and basis of the findings which I have occurred in the market during the research and consultation with many different commercial, I have concluded that there is a lack of large domestic products and especially with fresh strawberry.

This project I have started from last year, I set up two greenhouses and I have planted 2000 seedlings of strawberries in very good conditions (Varieties: 1000 Alba and 1000 Elsanta). In this business I have employed 3 family members.

Motivation

With the support of the project “YAP” I am very motived to extend this area from 0.04 to 0.10 ha with greenhouses and 0.10 ha in small tunnels which means I can employ three other people from my village which are non-employed.

I also will encourage and help young people, my friends here in the village as an expert of agriculture to plant strawberries in their own land and with that later on we will make a point collector for strawberry.

Why in greenhouse? Because the price of strawberry in season time is 1 euro per Kg, but earlier 1 month before the season the price of imported strawberries from Greece is 2 euro per 0.5 kg which means 4 euro/kg. Last year in May I could sell my strawberries 2.40 Euro per kg but from this year strawberries will be ready for the market around middle of April which means I will catch the price the same with imported strawberries. So with that I can say that planting strawberries in greenhouses is very profitability and it is very delicious as fresh fruit for consumers. I have this experience from previous year when many consumers asked for fresh strawberries and sweet.

The yield of strawberry is around 1 kg per seedling, net it is 0.750 kg and price expected to be approximately 3 Euro/kg

Profit Calculation:

2000 seedlings * 0.750 kg = 1500 kg * 3 Euro = 4500 Euro in 0.04 ha

I would like to list some septs which I intend to achieve my goal:

Extending the area with greenhouses (strawberries) plus 0.04 ha until end of August 2016 and 0.10 ha in tunnels

Also will be Installed irrigation system drip-drip

I will supply several major supermarkets in the city, already I have agreement with them and which are very close about 2 km from my place and which is an advantage since the strawberry is a sensitive fruit during the transportation and it is another good advantage that I can sell directly to consumers because the greenhouses are located near the road which leads to the city, So the sale is guaranteed based from experience of last year.

During my Master study in Hungary I got some extra money for the study and from those money I could save and planting strawberries was kind of my dream. So in 2015 I started and of course with my father and brothers support I could start this small Agribusiness.

The total investment of my business is 4000 Euro till now.

In all this project also I can measure my success:

04 ha greenhouses built in very good conditions

From last experience, I could sell all strawberries (I couldn’t meet consumer’s requirements compared with their needs. I have sold around 300 kg it was first year and planted late.

Three family members are employed in the harvesting time;

Budget and frame

In June I will construct greenhouse 0.04 ha which will cost around 3000 euro and

I will open a wells (500 euro),

In August will be planted 2000 seedlings which will cost 0.25 cents per seedling in total 500 euro,

#GCARD3 congratulation bro, since I knew you, you looked courageous, I do remember when you started sowing and preparing the greenhouse, I never believed that it will become such big project #GCARD3 .big up Fisinik

I really like it as a project idea , although I do not belong to this area it seems very interesting.
Good job especially to encourage Kosovo youth people to develop new ideas and brilliant projects like this.
All the best, you are good example of a man with great vision !

Dear Victor thank you for your suggestion, yes sure i have tried to be shortly but maybe not that much in details. The target markets will be local markets near to my place ( super markets) and also directly to the consumers because they prefer to take as fresh and they also would like to see strawberries in the field! so for selling it isn’t any problem at all.

Interesting topic. May be because of strawberry) Planting strawberry in Greenhouse is the most profitable as well as, most costly. I believe that your strawberry tastes as a real strawberry, not the one from shop, import or finally GMO..Fisnik, wish you good luck and patience)

You are welcome any time but if you come only for my fresh and sweet strawberries then you should come middle of April. I will why not but first I need to focus in local markets first then in region for sure and later on in EU( e.g. in Czech) 😀

Interesting topic. May be because of strawberry) Planting strawberry in Greenhouse is the most profitable as well as, most costly. I believe that your strawberry tastes as a real strawberry, not the one from shop, import or finally GMO..Fisnik, wish you good luck and patience)

Fisnik Shaqiri I am from Albania i saw your project i like it very much, i think it is very interesting business also youth in Kosovo can take an great example from you to do the same business! Your government have to support such projects! you did great job! Congratulation!

You have a nice cocept Mr Fishnik. The market in your country is fresh and i know agriculture is not with prepared and trained as in other countries so you should grab on to this project or apply for other diffferent subsides also envolving agricultural planting and selling. You can be the new enterpreneur in strawberry market in Kosovo and even maybe you can break into foreign markets with a diversified business plan.

thank you so much Mr. David, I will try to do my best, hopefully for beginning i will find support because this business is self sustainable! and no need money just ideas for innovation of curse and to increase the area!

Great Job Fisnik, as far as I know you definitely you will reach your goals with this kind of initiatives. This seems such a nice idea on the one hand you will produce healthy fruits to the market on the other hand you will help unemployed villagers and will spread this idea that every can do such kind of business but needs strong intention. Be successful and wish you all the best!

Thank you so much Tariq for your such beautiful words, you guys really are giving me more power to do my best, I promise that one day all of you guys will come to visit Kosovo and you will see my big project!

It is possible, I think, to say that… Fisnik`s idea is formed upon the understanding that it is sinful for people to misuse or destroy what they did not make to reduce the hunger poverty. The creation of this idea is a unique, irreplaceable agricultural output, therefore to be used with humility, respect, and skill as a pathway for the future farming generations. Keep going on my fellow!

It is possible, I think, to say that… Fisnik`s idea is formed upon the understanding that it is sinful for people to misuse or destroy what they did not make to combat the food sovereignty. The concept of this project is a unique and irreplaceable agricultural output, therefore to be used with humility, respect, and skill as a pathway for the future farming generations. Keep going on my fellow!

Wonderful idea Fisnik. Good way of thinking and even a motivating form for young people in Kosovo. Projects like this are awesome and a way of economic development for a region or a country. Balkan needs this.

Great idea und gut job Fisi. This have to be an example how the young people have to work. Such a project must support from the government of RKS. Kosovo needs more people like you. Keep going.
Alles gute aus Wien.

Knowing that we have such smart young people in are country makes me proud.
I totaly suport your ideas and I hope others well understand and suport you too.
Everything that people can invest in our country is importante . we have a lot of young people that are not employed and this could be a opportunity for them to get employed
so I hope that your hard work will be rewarded .
I wish you the BEST …

This is so inspiring. Great efforts and valuable ideas really can make a country’s agriculture to function better. Congratulation Mr.Shaqiri, seriously I hope you can make your plans a reality. Keep going.

It is great idea to supply clean and fresh strawberry for the community. It can also solve the problem of market availability of fresh strawberry in all seasons and the project can contribute to reduce unemmployment. Therefore the feasibility of this project is undoubted

Tahnks a lot Beteihem, it is true i would like to increase the area with strawberries in order to supply the local supermarkets for beginning…and also to help other youth to start with same business and like this to supply in all country with fresh strawberry and in the same time to reduce unemployment and migration as well!

This is a very important topic, due to increasing global needs for food. Also, one of the most significant link in the food supply chain is local production, even small. Especially commendable in this project is inclusion of local community, family members, knowledge sharing to other young and interested parties.
Fisnik, this is an excellent example how theoretical knowledge can be transferred into practice and running a business!

From my recent observations, the young entrepreneurs are the main people who are developing the gardening sector. It is great that they are concern about this type of business and apply their knowledge in it. Greetings

Hi Fisnik, i like your idea i never saw such ideas in public that how shoul work with strawberry, i think you should work hard and increas the area because Kosova needs fresh strawberries! Congrats and keep going…

Fisnik I am really so excited about this a marvellous project to plant&produce strawbarries in Kosovo,that’s an rarely and perfect idea of your mind I really appreciate so much your study obligations already that you have done with this great project and in this chase I support you a lot of and I wish you nice&untired job and lots of succes in every steps of your life with a big respect for you of course your old friend Elbasan Misini

Agriculture in general and products such strawberries a great potential for country economical development as well as rural development. These ideas and project should be supported from Kosovo institutions as well as other local and international initiatives! Thanks Fisnik

Dear Labinot thank you so much for your words and for your support, i think day by day youth of Kosovo are coming to the realistic life, “no job without agriculture”, these ideas will help the youth to start with their on work in their place!

Thank you again Samir bro, i really appreciate your strong support, I am trying to do my best in this way, strawberry was in my mind since that time so now u can see in reality, just hope with small support i will make it bigger! Yes for sure we can do it, we keep in touch,
All the best bro!

It’s very Interesting project
We need to have much more Iniciativ for healthy Fruits like Strawberries .
The world need to return to natyral fruits and we need to support and take example from those case.
Congratulation great job.

thank you Bekim so much for your support, i suggest to every young people in Kosovo to start with strawberries, blueberries and other agriculture areas! Kosovo needs for fresh food! youth need for job, so let’s do it and let’s help our country.

We know it’s important to give positive feedback in response to a job well done. Excellent work must always be recognized and differentiated as such.This is so great I think others could benefit from learning about it. Good work, as always.

Dear Ilirana, thank you so much for your wonderful words, I really appreciate your comment and your support as always, I think also this idea will help to other youth and will inspire them to start with any kind of agribusiness! We are here together to help them anytime.

Hi Fisnik. Great Project! Very interesting which leads me to Some questions: How is the Botrytis sitiation with your strawberries and how Many Fungicide Applications You have to Make? Concerning the ripening Time: are there Maybe Even strawberry cultivars which have an earlier ripening Time That You could plant?

Hi Franziska, thanks a lot for your comment and your questions, I didn’t have any problems with that I have some experts friends and always I consult with them if i have something. I used once before winter time and until now i didn’t use, and from now i am using only potassium and calcium, and about cultivars these 2 which i have planted Alba and Elsanta are more delicious and nice color also they have earlier ripening time but it depends on the weather and for this I planted in greenhouses. Thank so much for ur questions and if u have any suggestion pls write me. All the best!

Great job Fisnik, you are showing one of the greatest way to the young generation who studied Agricultural science, to let them know the way how to develop modern Agricultural that they studied previously.
I wish you a successful project and i encourage you to increase the surface of strawberry orchard using greenhouse (protected condition)